Rashmi (L) and his bother Deepak Kamani (R) want the documents released so that they can travel out of the country.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 9 – A Nairobi court will next Wednesday decide if to release passports belonging to the Kamani brothers, who are facing charges over the Anglo Leasing saga.
Rashmi and his bother Deepak Kamani want the documents released so that they can travel out of the country.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi told magistrate Doreen Mulekyo that Rashmi wants to travel to the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) to visit his epileptic wife who is admitted to hospital.
Deepak on the other hand wants to travel to India, Pakistan and China for business.
Abdullahi assured the court that the two suspects will not desert their 84 year old father who is their co-accused in the case.
“I want to assure the court that the two will come back because they cannot abandon their aged father,” he argued.
The prosecution however told the court that the application was in violation of the conditions set when the two were released on bond. It further recalled that withholding their travel documents was one of the key conditions given when they were released on March 5.
READ: Kamanis deny ‘small’ Anglo Leasing felonies
In opposing the application further, the prosecution explained that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was already actively investigating the Anglo-Leasing type of contracts.
The prosecution argues that Deepak’s explanation to travel to China and Dubai for business was hazy as he had not explained his trip in detail.
“The applicant has failed to disclose the destination states and cities of the countries he intends to visit,” the prosecution said. In its view, releasing the documents to the two suspects would allow them to jump bail.
Magistrate Mulekyo further heard that releasing their travel documents was a risky decision that would facilitate them to escape Kenya’s jurisdiction.
She further heard that the suspects would complicate the case further as it would be difficult to trace them or summon them when required to appear in court once they leave the country.
The prosecution further argued that Rashmi’s wife has been ailing for more than eight years and there is no indication that the ailment cannot be treated in Kenya.
According to investigator Bowen Kanda, the cases are at an advanced stage.
However the court heard the duo are yet to be interviewed in relation to the bribery investigations.
“The investigating team is desirous of inviting them for interview in the next two weeks,” they added.
Together with their father, the duo has denied conspiring to defraud the government over Sh10 billion in the Anglo Leasing deal.
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